Using a Dermaroller for Hair loss? Does Microneedling Work?

The idea behind using a dermaroller for hair loss is to basically stick hundreds of needles into your head on a regular basis. This, along with other topical hair loss treatments you might be using, is said to have a combined effect that might just regrow your hair.

At first glance this idea might sound very unlikely (and very unpleasant!), but there is evidence that this form of therapy can actually stimulate new hair growth.

This review explains microneedling hair loss therapy including results, side effects and the best dermaroller to use if you decide to give it a go.

Does Microneedling Really Work?

Yes, a study conducted in 2013 confirmed that microneedling really can help hair regrow.

The study involved 94 men with mild or moderate hair loss. They were then split into two groups. One group was given microneedling one day a week (a dermaroller with 540 needles that were 1.5 mm long was rolled in various directions until the skin just started to go red). And on the other 6 days, they had minoxidil lotion applied twice a day. The other half were just given minoxidil every day. After 12 weeks, the microneedling group had, on average, about four times as much hair growing as the other group.

*
Note: The skin's repair mechanism also includes an increase in collagen
production. And a dermaroller can help stimulate this process (it's
known as collagen induction therapy). This is actually the main reason
why most people use a dermaroller - as an anti-aging skin care product
to help tackle skin blemishes, wrinkles, scarring, acne, etc.

Dermaroller Results

Comments in forums, Amazon product reviews, etc, give a very mixed
picture. However, a lot of men and women genuinely seem to believe that
using a dermaroller for hair loss definitely had a beneficial effect.

The best dermaroller results probably depend on the following:

1. Which topical products you apply before and after using the dermaroller

Usually it's recommended to apply a skin cleanser/sanitizer beforehand and a hair growth product afterwards.

However, if you do use both a topical product and a dermaroller for hair loss, bear in mind that if you apply the product immediately after rolling (as is generally suggested), then a lot more of it is going to get absorbed. And whilst that might sound great because it should make the product more effective, it might also mean that your body absorbs too much. This is especially true of the drug minoxidil (Rogaine). And since Rogaine side effects can be nasty, it's important not to apply it on the same day that you use a dermaroller.

2. How often you use the dermaroller

Dermaroller usage depends on a number of things, especially needle length. Some research suggests the following safe advice whenever using a dermaroller for hair loss:

0.25 mm or 0.5 mm needles can be used two times per week.

1 mm needles can be used once a week.

1.5 mm can be used once a month maximum under medical supervision (this, of course, is much less frequent than the weekly 1.5 mm dermaroller treatment performed in the 2013 study).

Generally, there seems to be agreement that the longer the needles, the more likely they are to harm rather than heal, especially if used too often.

3. How well you use the dermaroller

Basically this just means following the instructions carefully. Rolling it the right way, the right number of times, not pressing down too hard, etc. All of which, if done correctly, should maximize results and minimize the risk of side effects from excessive skin trauma or infection.

Which Dermaroller Is Best?

Whilst it might be tempting to just use the same dermaroller used in the 2013 study (540x 1.5 mm stainless steel needles by Dermaroller System (DRS)), bear in mind that the needling procedure was performed by medical professionals. The 1.5 mm needle length is generally the maximum size used for hair loss, but often a 1 mm or even 0.5 mm needle length is recommended instead, especially if you're trying this idea for the first time.

The following general guidelines should help you decide which would be the best dermaroller to use:

Dermaroller Side Effects

A dermaroller can easily cause side effects by skin trauma if you
press down too hard against the scalp. To help prevent this, the total
number of needles that dermaroller's contain varies.

Generally,
the longer the needle, the more needles a dermaroller will have. This
spreads out the load on your skin, preventing excessive penetration
and pain from the longer needles. So, for example, a dermaroller with
1.5 mm needles might have a total of 1200, and a dermaroller with 0.5 mm
needles only has 180. And always remember, you can't force your hair to
grow!

Research suggests that stainless steel needles are more
hygienic than those that contain titanium. But people with metal
allergies might prefer trying a non-metallic dermaroller instead. For
example, a company called White Lotus Anti Aging promoted a dermaroller
on Amazon made from a "biocompatible polymer" which, it claims, is
hypoallergenic.

Given how persistent hair loss can be, obviously
if you plan on using a dermaroller for hair loss, it's going to be a
long term treatment. And that means a long term investment as well.
Eventually, the needles will get blunt and can dislodge, so you'll need
to keep buying a new dermaroller every now and then. This would also
give you an opportunity to switch to one with a different needle size if
you prefer. If you don't do this often enough, possible side effects
include:

Broken bits of needle might be left behind in the skin. Not a nice thought!

Keeping the dermaroller meticulously clean is also very important. If you don't, you increase the risk of infection and subsequent side effects. Clearly, an unhealthy, infected scalp is not going to grow hair as well as it otherwise would! Dermaroller hygiene is covered in the next section by the way.

Another potential side effect is that, if you're treating thinning hair rather than completely bald areas of the scalp (like receding temples), then you need to be careful not to get your hair tangled up in the roller. Hundreds of needles means there's a high likelihood that you might end up ripping out more hair than you're trying to grow!

And that's where hands-on techniques like massage have an advantage. My own home remedy for hair loss uses hands-on techniques. And they're now successfully helping hundreds of men and women as well as myself (as you can see from this photo).

For anyone who hates needles, there's another way you can avoid using a dermaroller for hair loss but still gain most of its benefits - Dermaroller without the needles.

The majority of Amazon reviews I've seen are from people not actually using a dermaroller for hair loss. Most customers, it seems, use them for skin care. Nevertheless, a review is a review. And since hair grows from the skin, that should mean that all these skin-related product reviews are still relevant. Most comments about side effects seem acceptable (e.g., just slight stinging for a few days). But there are a few horror stories such as how the dermaroller they used tore through the skin causing facial scabs and scars. Clearly then, you have to be very careful if you use one, especially if it has longer needles.

Cleaning Dermarollers

Dermaroller cleaning advice ranges from one extreme to the other. So, from the simplest ideas by real users (forums, Amazon reviews, etc.) to more formal advice (from websites, videos, etc.), here's a quick summary of the many possible cleaning methods I found:

Amazon Q&A customer answer: Did not sterilize but there was no irritation whatsoever.

Amazon seller: Wash it in warm water, but you can use alcohol instead.

2009 medical study (using a dermaroller for skin care, not hair loss): Clean after use in hot tap water, then shake dry. Peptide-based roller cleaners can also be used.

Website: Completely immerse the dermaroller with 75% alcohol solution in its container. Rinse with hot water (don't use boiling water - it damages the needles).

Website: Pour boiling water over the roller before using it. After using it, put it in an antibacterial cleaner for a minute. Then rinse it with boiling water.

Video: Use denture cleaner.

Amazon Product description: Use UV light.

Website: Only dermaroller's with needles 0.2 mm or less can be cleaned and reused. All other dermaroller's are single-use products and should be cleaned using gamma radiation!

So, take your pick!

However, to stay on the safe side, it looks like it's best to sterilise a dermaroller before and after use. And obviously you have to wash your skin beforehand as well.

Final Tips Before Using a Dermaroller for Hair Loss

If you're going to use a dermaroller for hair loss treatment, here are a few more neat ideas:

Despite the huge range of cleaning advice given in the last section, there does at least seem to be agreement that, after use, a dermaroller should be completely air dried before putting it back in its case.

To prevent blunt needles, only ever rest a dermaroller on a towel, not a hard surface.

If you decide to use a dermaroller for hair loss with longer needles (e.g., 1.5 mm), don't apply any topical products on the same day.

So, there it is. Whether you're planning on using a dermaroller for hair loss or skin care, I hope you found this review useful.

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